As the warm trickle of blood ran down the length of her hoof, Fluttershy was filled with an unexpected swell of anticipation. Dripping her life down upon the carvings in the wood floor, she watched as it flowed through the groves she’d made with the same blade she’d slit her skin with.
A light breeze took through the room, killing all candles but one, leaving the pegasus barely visible in the darkness. With the room plunged in shadow, there were two things Fluttershy could properly see. Her blood was slowly beginning to luminesce, and she was no longer alone.
In the single flickering light, she could just barely see a form twice her size in the shadows. Its body was serpentine and it bore just the slightest glint of eyes and teeth staring back at her. It had worked.
“I, um…” she stammered, her plans for what to do next thrown out the window by a swell of fear, “thank You for answering my call.”
“Why would a pony such as yourself call on an ancient one like me,” It asked in a predatory tone, “Answer quickly or I may grow bored.”
Fluttershy steadied herself, “The Everfree Forest. I have heard that You command it. I w-”
“Nobody controls the Everfree,” It spat out, “It’s right there in the name. Do your research next time you seek to commune with a god.”
“But you made it,” Fluttershy shakily mumbled, “How could it not be yours?”
The snakelike body started to wrap around the edge of the shadows in which Fluttershy stood, “You ponies know nothing of reality, and even less of freedom.”
Immediately aware of her blood loss, Fluttershy began to waver with lightheadedness, “I just want to know how the animals care for themselves.”
It froze, “Why?”
“Because they don’t seem to need ponies, and I don’t understand why the ones outside the forest do.”
It’s teeth grew closer to the light, shining with a dangerous smile, “You have my attention, pony.”
It was done.
Fluttershy felt… good. She wasn’t entirely sure if it was because of the result of the ritual or being drunk off of blood loss, but she felt giddy. With a quick glance down to the rapidly stitching cut in her hoof, she smiled. She knew what to do next.
Her God knelt down and whispered in her ear, “This fraction of my power should be more than sufficient for your needs. I’m impressed, po- Fluttershy. You accepted that with more grace than I’d anticipated.”
Fluttershy turned and smiled up at the ghostly, serpentine form of her new Master, eager to begin their work. With a paw, He brushed her mane aside to get a better look at her face. Despite his physical body long since being trapped in stone, he was still a man of theatrics. He smiled, but his sharp teeth no longer looked intimidating to Fluttershy.
“As long as I can make the animals happy,” Fluttershy mumbled in a low, embarrassed whisper, “I will do anything you ask.”
“That’s a good little pony,” He said, planting a tiny kiss on her forehead, “I’ll have need of you in a few years. Until then, take care of the Everfree for me.”
Fluttershy smiled meekly at the kiss, “Yes, Discord.”